Transport and storage container of synthetic material

ABSTRACT

A transport and storage container of synthetic material for liquid, pasty, granular and pulverous materials includes a palette-like base frame and an inner container of synthetic material placed on the base frame. The inner container has an upper closeable filling connection and a lower discharge connection with a discharge fitting or an upper closeable discharge connection. An outer casing surrounding the inner container is constructed of grate rods of metal or sheet metal. The inner container of synthetic material is extrusion blow molded and has a multiple layer construction, wherein the inner container includes at least one outer fire protection layer which contains at least one fire protection agent against the effect of heat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a transport and storage container of synthetic material for liquid, pasty, granular and pulverous materials. The present invention particularly relates to a palette container with a palette-like base frame and an inner container of synthetic material placed on the base frame, wherein the inner container has an upper closeable filling connection and a lower discharge connection with a discharge fitting or an upper closeable discharge connection, as well as an outer casing which surrounds the inner container, wherein the outer casing is constructed of grate rods of metal or sheet metal. The invention also relates to drums of synthetic material.

2. Description of the Related Art

Containers of synthetic material for transporting and storing various materials are generally not fireproof.

DE 101 61 693 A1 describes a palette container of the above-described type with a fire protection casing arranged between the inner container of synthetic material and the outer casing, wherein the fire protection casing is of a sheet metal material which reflects heat radiation, and an additional fire and heat installation arranged between the inner container and the fire protection casing, wherein the additional installation is composed of a fabric or non-woolen fabric of glass or aluminum fibers, a ceramic fabric of stone wool or of corrugated card board which is impregnated with fire-resistant water glass.

The manufacture of this known palette container, whose inner container of synthetic material is protected against fire by a fire protection casing of a sheet metal material which reflects heat radiation and an additional fire and heat installation arranged between the inner container and the fire protection casing, is relatively cumbersome and, therefore, expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to develop a fire-proof transport and storage container of synthetic material for materials of different types which container can be manufactured inexpensively.

In accordance with the present invention, the inner container of synthetic material is manufactured by extrusion blow molding and has a multiple layer construction, wherein the inner container includes at least one outer fire protection layer which contains at least one fire protection agent against the effect of heat.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the palette container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view, on a larger scale, of the wall of the inner container having a three-layer construction and of the grate casing of the palette container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the palette container.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudial sectional of view, on a larger scale, of the area of the cover; and

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudial sectional view, on a larger scale, of the bottom area of the container of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The palette container 1 according to FIG. 1, constructed as a single-use or multiple use container for transporting and storing liquids, includes as principal components a replaceable, parallelepiped inner container 2 of synthetic material with a front wall 3, a rear wall 4 and two side walls 5, 6, a lower and an upper bottom 7, 8, a filling connection 9 integrally formed with the upper bottom 7 and closeable with a cover 10, and a discharge connection 11 integrally formed with a lower portion of the front wall 3, wherein the discharge connection 11 includes a discharge fitting 12, and with an outer grate casing 13 of intersecting horizontal and vertical grate rods 14, 15 of metal for receiving the inner container 2, and a palette-like base frame 16 with length and width dimensions which meet European standards.

The bottom 7 of the inner container 2 which is constructed as a discharge bottom has a central discharge groove 17 which descends from the rear wall 5 of the container to the outlet connection 11 in the end wall 3, and the inner container 2 is placed with the lower bottom 7 on the correspondingly shaped bottom 18 of the base frame 16.

The bottom 18 of the palette container 1 intended for manipulation by means of forklifts, shelf operating systems or similar transport means, of the base frame 16 of the palette container 1, rests on four corner legs 19-22, and a rear center leg 23, a front middle leg 24 formed of the bottom 18, wherein the middle leg 24 is arranged underneath the discharge fitting 12 of the palette container 1, and two lateral middle legs 25, 26 which are formed by the outer ends of a bridge-like stiffening sheet metal 27 for the bottom 18.

FIG. 2 shows that the end wall 3, the rear wall 4, the side walls 5, 6 and the lower and upper bottoms 7, 8 of the inner container 2 of synthetic material manufactured by extrusion blow molding of a polyethvlene of high density is composed of an inner layer 28, a middle layer 29 and an outer fire protection layer 30 against the influence of heat.

For manufacturing the outer fire protection layer 30 of the inner container 2 of the palette container 1 in particular, and generally of synthetic material containers such as plastic drums, various synthetic materials can be used which may contain halogens such as fluoride, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Moreover, the fire protection layer can be constructed in containers of synthetic material of a polymer material which under the influence of heat forms crusts which are not combustible.

Also, the fire protection layer of the container may consist of a synthetic material which contains nanoparticles, for example, of heat-resistant red phosphorus or alumina.

An effective protection against the influence of fire is provided by an outer fire protection layer 30 which is composed of an expanded graphite. Under the influence of heat, the graphite expands and an intumescence layer 31 is formed on the surface of the inner container, wherein the layer 31 completely surrounds the grate rods 14, 15 of the grate casing 13. This intumescence layer insulates the material filled into the inner container against the flame and prevents further melting of the polyethylene wall of the inner container.

The fire protection layer 30 may be constructed as a composite layer which is formed by at least two of the above-described fire protection layers.

In the same manner, the middle layer 29 of the inner container 2 can also be constructed as a support layer by means of a composite layer.

The palette container 32 illustrated in FIG. 3 differs from the palette container 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 by a moveable protective cover 33 attached to the grate casing 13, wherein the cover 35 has a middle access opening 34 to the filling connection 9 of the inner container 2 and a fire protection wall 35 with four side walls 35 a-35 d placed in the grate casing 13.

The fire protection casing 35, the protective cover 33 and the bottom 18 and the corner and middle legs 19-22, 23-25 of the base frame 16 of the transport and storage container 32 are manufactured of a sheet metal material which reflects heat radiation.

The side walls 35 a-35 d of the fire protection wall 35 are jammed between the bottom 18 of the base frame 16 and the lower inwardly pulled end 15 a of the vertically extending grate rods 15 of the grate casing 13.

It is also possible to screw the side walls 35 a-35 d of the fire protection wall 35 to the lower ends 15 a of the vertical grate rods 15 and/or the lower frame 36 of the grate casing 13.

By providing a sightly outwardly angled upper edge 37 of the fire protection wall 35, the insertion of the inner container 2 into the fire protection casing 35 is facilitated and damage to the inner container during the insertion thereof is prevented.

The protective cover 33 inserted with its edge 38 into the upper edge 37 of the fire protection casing 35 is screwed together with the fire protection wall 35 to the upper ends 15 b of the vertical grate rods 15 of the grate casing 13.

As is the case in the inner container of the palette container 1 of FIG. 1, the inner container 2 produced by extrusion blow molding of synthetic material is composed of an inner layer 28, a middle layer 29 and an outer fire protection layer 30 against the influence of heat, wherein the fire protection layer may contain the fire-retarding materials described above in connection with the palette container according to FIG. 1.

When manufacturing the outer single-layer or multiple-layer fire protection layer 30 of the inner container 2 of expanded graphite, in case of fire the hollow spaces existing between the inner container 2 and the side walls 35 a-35 d of the fire protection wall 35, the protective cover 33 and the bottom 18 of the base frame 16 are filled out by the intumescence layer 31 of the expanded graphite which expands under the influence of heat.

The fire protection casing 35 of sheet metal material and the intumecence layer 31 of the graphite of the outer fire protection layer 30 of the inner container 2 ensure an effective fire protection for the palette container in case of fire.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the palette container equipped with fire protection, the fire protection casing 35 of sheet metal material arranged between the inner container 2 and the outer casing 13 is equipped with an inner and/or outer coating of synthetic material which contains at least one fire protection agent against the influence of heat.

Finally, in the transport and storage containers described above, the fire protection layer of the inner container may be coated with an electrically conductive synthetic material.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 

1. A transport and storage container of synthetic material for liquid, pasty, granular and pulverous materials, the container comprising a palette-like base frame and an inner container of synthetic material placed on the base frame, the inner container having an upper closeable filling connection and a lower discharge connection with a discharge fitting or an upper closeable discharge connection, and an outer casing which surrounds the inner container, wherein the outer casing is constructed of grate rods of metal or sheet metal.
 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection layer contains at least one halogen.
 3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the fire protection layer contains fluoride, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.
 4. The container according to claim 1, comprising a fire protection layer of a synthetic polymer which under the effect of heat forms crusts which are not combustible.
 5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection layer is of a synthetic material which contains nanoparticles of red phosphorus or alumina.
 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection layer is of expanded granite.
 7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection layer is a composite layer composed of at least two layers.
 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the two layers contain at least one halogen.
 9. The container according to claim 7, wherein the two layers contain fluoride, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.
 10. The container according to claim 7, wherein the two layers are of a synthetic polymer which under the influence of heat forms crusts which are not combustible.
 11. The container according to claim 7, wherein the fire protection layer is of a synthetic material which contains nanoparticles of red phosphorus or alumina.
 12. The container according to claim 7, wherein the fire protection layer is of expanded graphite.
 13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection layer has a coating of an electrically conductive synthetic material.
 14. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a fire protection casing of sheet metal material between the inner container and the outer casing.
 15. A transport and storage container of synthetic material for liquid, pasty, granular and pulverous materials, the container comprising a palette-like base frame and an inner container of synthetic material placed on the base frame, the inner container having an upper closeable filling connection and a lower discharge connection with a discharge fitting or an upper closeable discharge connection, and an outer casing which surrounds the inner container, wherein the outer casing is constructed of grate rods of metal or sheet metal, further comprising a fire protection casing of sheet metal material between the inner container and the outer casing, wherein the fire protection casing has an inner and/or outer coating of synthetic material which contains at least one fire protection agent against the effect of heat.
 16. A drum of synthetic material for transporting and storing liquid, pasty, granular and pulverous materials the drum having an inner container of synthetic material, the inner container of synthetic material being extrusion blow molded an having a multiple layer construction, wherein the inner container includes at least one outer fire protection layer which contains at least one fire protection agent against the effect of heat. 